With Combustion Engine Patents (Class 374/144)
  • Patent number: 7950848
    Abstract: A sheath type measuring instrument can be mounted in place easily and smoothly without the need for boring holes in an outer wall and an inner wall with high positional accuracy and also for a complex process, even if a barrel is to be fixed to the outer wall while a tip end of a sheath is being inserted in a sheath insertion hole bored in an inner wall. The sheath type measuring instrument has a sheath having a tip end for being brought closely to or into contact with a measurand for measuring a physical property of the measurand, and a barrel holding a proximal portion of the sheath for movement in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Ebara Corporation, Okazaki Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Saho Kimura, Takashi Sugaya, Manabu Kazaoka, Yuuya Hashiguchi
  • Publication number: 20110113873
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and a method for monitoring a sliding state of a piston ring. The present invention detects a cycle of rotation of a piston ring based on a temperature at a predetermined site of a cylinder liner, and determines a sign of burning of a piston based on a state of the rotation. As a result, it is possible to detect a sign of burning of a piston by an apparatus less expensive than apparatuses using a conventional technique of detecting a capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Saito, Kouji Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20110100329
    Abstract: In a method for determining a fuel temperature in an injection system for an internal combustion engine, a modulus of elasticity of the fuel is determined on the basis of a measured parameter, and the fuel temperature is determined on the basis of the modulus of elasticity. In a method for determining a fuel temperature upstream of a forepump of an injection system for an internal combustion engine, the intake air temperature and a fuel pressure in the injection system are determined, and the fuel temperature is determined in accordance with the fuel pressure and the intake air temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Hui Li
  • Patent number: 7887234
    Abstract: Methods for maximum scene surface temperature estimation for blades with reflective surface properties in advanced stationary gas turbines are disclosed. The approach utilizes high speed infrared imagery provided by an online monitor system using a focal plan array (FPA) for near-infrared monitoring during engine runtime up to base load. The one waveband method for temperature estimation is assumed as starting point. A lower surface emissivity and higher surface reflectance of thermal barrier coating (TBC) in near-infrared can cause systematic estimation errors. Methods using the one wave band method, with the purpose to reduce estimation errors for maximum temperatures are also disclosed. Theoretical results, data from numerical simulations, and real data from engine test are provided. A system for performing temperature estimation methods is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignees: Siemens Corporation, Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinay Jonnalagadda, Dennis H. Lemieux, Visvanathan Ramesh, Matthias Voigt
  • Patent number: 7878708
    Abstract: A temperature sensor arrangement in an automatic transmission in which the temperature sensor (1) is arranged such that oil leaked from the hydraulic system permanently flows around it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Anton Fritzer, Tobias Pfleger, Georg Ege
  • Patent number: 7857508
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the functionality of a temperature sensor that can deliver an electrical signal as a function of the measured temperature and is disposed, in particular, in the cooling water circuit of an internal combustion engine, the persistence of the temperature sensor in the high signal range is made possible by a method encompassing the following steps: Characterizing the sensor as possibly faulty if the sensor indicates, upon engine shutdown, at least a maximum value of the cooling fluid temperature; determining a first gradient of the cooling fluid temperature, measured by the possibly faulty sensor, up to a first point in time after engine shutdown, and characterizing the sensor as fault-free if the gradient exceeds a minimum value; determining a second gradient of the cooling fluid temperature, measured by the possibly faulty sensor, between the point in time and a point in time after engine shutdown, and characterizing the sensor as fault-free if the second gradient exceeds a minimum va
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Foerstner, Andreas Eckert, Siegfried Goetz, Joerg Neumann
  • Publication number: 20100319651
    Abstract: To provide a temperature sensor plausibility diagnosis unit and plausibility diagnosis method that can accurately perform plausibility diagnosis of a temperature sensor in a desired timing and an exhaust purification apparatus equipped with the plausibility diagnosis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7841769
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas feedstream flowing past a gas sensing device disposed therein. The gas sensor includes an integrated electrical heating element which provides a resistance indicative of its temperature. An unknown input observer is used to determine the exhaust gas feedstream temperature based on the heating element temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Julian R. Verdejo, Nicholas John Kalweit
  • Patent number: 7824099
    Abstract: A method for accurate estimation of a gas temperature at transient conditions includes measuring temperature sensor readings in a gas flow and estimating the gas temperature by equating the specific heat properties of the temperature sensor to the sum of conductive heat, convective heat, and radiative heat acting upon the temperature sensor and solving for the gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongsheng He, Paul Anthony Battiston, Alexandros C. Alkidas
  • Patent number: 7819578
    Abstract: A temperature measuring arrangement measures the temperature of a fluid passing a component. The arrangement includes a temperature measuring device having a substrate of low thermal capacity that has applied thereto two or more temperature recording media. The device is attached to and spaced apart from the component and is in the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Coney, Andrew J. Mullender, Hugh M. L. Watson, Christopher S. Boniface
  • Publication number: 20100236251
    Abstract: A temperature measuring device is provided. The temperature measuring device measures the temperature in a combustion system, in particular for that of a combustion system of a gas turbine. The temperature measuring device is equipped with a heat absorbing element disposed in or on the combustion system, a measurement end disposed remotely from the combustion system having, disposed thereon, a temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the measurement end, a heat conducting element which connects the heat absorbing element to the measurement end in a thermally conductive manner, and a cooling device acting on the heat conducting element in a quantifiable manner for heat removal. A gas turbine having a temperature measuring device and method for directly determining the temperature in a combustion chamber are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Olaf Hein, Michael Minne
  • Patent number: 7771113
    Abstract: A sensor diagnostic method, such as to determine rationality of one of three temperature sensors used in an exhaust aftertreatment system, includes determining the temperature difference between the first and second sensor, determining the temperature difference between the second and third sensor, determining whether the temperature differences are within an acceptable threshold range and comparing the two temperature differences to determine which sensor is in error, if any.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc
    Inventors: Todd Corbet, Ross C. Berryhill, Daniel R. Harshbarger
  • Patent number: 7766542
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining a catalyst bed temperature. The method may include receiving a current fluid mass flow within an exhaust pipe and a total amount of unburned fuel available for catalytic combustion. The method may further include determining a plurality of fluid enthalpy values corresponding to various locations within the exhaust pipe. The method may continue with calculating an amount of fuel burned on an upstream catalyst based on the plurality of fluid enthalpy values, and determining an amount of fuel remaining that is available for combustion on a downstream catalyst. The method may determine a combustion efficiency of the downstream catalyst based on the temperature rise across the downstream catalyst, and an amount of heat generated within the downstream catalyst based on the combustion efficiency and the amount of fuel remaining that is available for combustion on the downstream catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc
    Inventor: Michael J. Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20100118914
    Abstract: A mount includes a mounting bolt attached to a casing; an internal bushing that engages the casing at a distal end of the internal bushing; and an external bushing that engages a manifold and engages the internal bushing. The internal bushing is adjustable with respect to the external bushing thereby allowing the manifold to be adjustable with respect to the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Mitch Mircea Orza, Michael George Savale, Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 7703976
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus including a plurality of sensors, and a measurement device. The plurality of sensors being divided into sensor groups with each sensor group having a number of sensors. The groups being arranged such that the sensor groups are electrically matched. The sensors in a sensor group coupled in parallel with each other to form a sensor ladder. A measurement device is arranged to compare electrical signals from each sensor group and to output an indication signal, wherein the measurement device is coupled to each sensor ladder at an intermediate position and in that the coupling position of each sensor ladder are electrically equivalent to one another. Also provided by the present invention is a method of monitoring a plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: David Geoffrey Henshaw, Susan Janet Riley
  • Patent number: 7690840
    Abstract: A method of remotely monitoring the radiant energy (6) emitted from a turbine component such as a turbine blade (1) having a low-reflective surface coating (3) which may be undergoing potential degradation is used to determine whether erosion, spallation, delamination, or the like, of the coating (3) is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Zombo, Dennis Lemieux, Evangelos Diatzikis
  • Patent number: 7682076
    Abstract: A temperature sensor including a housing and a temperature sensing element at least partially disposed in the housing. A particulate media, which may include a blend of differently sized particles, is disposed in the housing and at least partially surrounds the temperature sensing element. The particulate media may entrain oxygen to avoid a reducing atmosphere in said housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald N. Landis, Robert J. Sparks, Jeffrey T. Norris
  • Patent number: 7651262
    Abstract: A discriminating apparatus of liquid reducing agent is disclosed, in which, based on concentration of liquid reducing agent which is measured at each predetermined time after starting of engine, discrimination is processed whether the storage tank is filled with dissimilar aqueous solution, the storage tank is normally filled with the liquid reducing agent, or the storage tank is empty. When the empty discrimination or the dissimilar aqueous solution discrimination is performed, it is judged whether or not the discrimination is adequate according to the liquid condition in the storage tank. When the empty or the dissimilar aqueous solution discrimination is adequate, the empty discrimination frequency or the dissimilar aqueous solution discrimination frequency is counted up. When the empty discrimination frequency and the dissimilar aqueous solution discrimination frequency become equal to or larger than the first predetermined frequency, the discrimination is upheld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Nishina, Hideki Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20100014553
    Abstract: Cloud point monitoring systems for determining a cloud point of diesel fuel are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a cloud point monitoring system determines a cloud point temperature value utilizing signals indicating a viscosity level of diesel fuel and a temperature of the diesel fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: BRYAN K. PRYOR, WILLIAM C. ALBERTSON
  • Publication number: 20100014554
    Abstract: Cloud point monitoring systems for determining a cloud point temperature value for diesel fuel are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a cloud point monitoring system receives diesel fuel in the tubular conduit and propagates a sound wave through the diesel fuel. The cloud point monitoring system further determines a cloud point temperature value indicative of a cloud point of the diesel fuel based on a phase shift of the sound wave propagating through the diesel fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: William C. Albertson
  • Publication number: 20090323760
    Abstract: A device for recording the pressure and the temperature in an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor being situated in a common housing, and an evaluation of a signal of the temperature sensor being provided outside the housing. An EMC protective circuit is provided in this context, which is integrated into the housing and/or is situated on the housing, and is electrically connected to the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Jan Gebauer, Masoud Habibi, Markus Reinhard
  • Patent number: 7553078
    Abstract: A temperature sensor 10 includes a metallic cover 5, a thermistor element 1 accommodated in a front portion 5s of the metallic cover 5, first and second conductive wires 2a and 2b extending rearwards of the thermistor element 1 and transmitting a signal therefrom, a MI cable 4 in which first and second core wires 4a and 4b are positioned and having a front end thereof inserted into the metallic cover 5, and an insulating holder 3 situated between the thermistor element 1 and the front end of the MI cable 4 in the metallic cover 5. The insulating holder 3 holds the first and second conductive wires 2a and 2b and corresponding first and second core wires 4a and 4b, respectively. The conductive wires and the corresponding core wires are connected to each other in the insulating holder 3. Furthermore, the thermistor element 1 and the insulating holder 3 are fixed by means of cement 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Hanzawa, Masahiko Nishi
  • Publication number: 20090141769
    Abstract: A sensing system is provided having a bypass configured to divert fluid from a main passageway. In addition, the sensing system has a fluid sensor situated within the bypass and configured to sense a concentration of an element contained within the fluid. The sensing system also has a first heater configured to convey thermal energy to the fluid sensor. Furthermore, the sensing system has a first temperature sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a temperature of the fluid sensor. The sensing system further has a controller configured to regulate the first heater in response to the sensed parameter indicative of the temperature of the fluid sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Darryl Dean Baldwin, William Christopher Boley
  • Publication number: 20090141768
    Abstract: A method for accurate estimation of a gas temperature at transient conditions includes measuring temperature sensor readings in a gas flow and estimating the gas temperature by equating the specific heat properties of the temperature sensor to the sum of conductive heat, convective heat, and radiative heat acting upon the temperature sensor and solving for the gas temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yongsheng He, Paul Anthony Battiston, Alexandros C. Alkidas
  • Patent number: 7537383
    Abstract: A protective element for a measuring probe, in particular a measuring probe for use in the exhaust system of a motor vehicle, includes at least one temporarily water-binding layer which binds water chemically and/or physically in a first operating state and releases the bound water in a second operating state. A corresponding measuring probe, honeycomb body and motor vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Kait Althöfer, Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 7537382
    Abstract: In a gas mixture temperature estimation method for an internal combustion engine, before a forefront portion of a gas mixture reaches an inner wall surface of the combustion chamber, the gas mixture temperature is calculated in accordance with a predetermined equation which is based on the assumption that no head exchange occurs between the gas mixture and cylinder interior gas which exists around the gas mixture without mixing with fuel. After the gas mixture forefront portion reaches the inner wall surface of the combustion chamber, the gas mixture temperature calculated in accordance with the equation is corrected in consideration of the quantity of heat transfer between the gas mixture and the cylinder interior gas and the quantity of heat transfer between the gas mixture and the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Ibuki, Shigeki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7534033
    Abstract: A method and device for checking temperature values of a temperature sensor of a combustion engine are provided. A first temperature actual value is recorded during a first length of time at an ending of the operation of the combustion engine. A second temperature actual value is recorded during a second length of time during an operating state reflecting the starting of the combustion engine. A turn-off length of time of the combustion engine is determined between the ending of the operation of and the subsequent starting of the operation of the combustion engine. In addition, a temperature set value is established based on the first temperature actual value and on the turn-off length of time. An error of the second temperature actual value is recognized based on the second temperature actual value and on the temperature set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oliver Prinz, Hong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090097525
    Abstract: In a gas mixture temperature estimation method for an internal combustion engine, before a forefront portion of a gas mixture reaches an inner wall surface of the combustion chamber, the gas mixture temperature is calculated in accordance with a predetermined equation which is based on the assumption that no head exchange occurs between the gas mixture and cylinder interior gas which exists around the gas mixture without mixing with fuel. After the gas mixture forefront portion reaches the inner wall surface of the combustion chamber, the gas mixture temperature calculated in accordance with the equation is corrected in consideration of the quantity of heat transfer between the gas mixture and the cylinder interior gas and the quantity of heat transfer between the gas mixture and the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taku Ibuki, Shigeki Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20090090097
    Abstract: A quantity of unburned fuel is provided through a combustion chamber of an engine and an exhaust conduit to a catalytic converter. The catalyst in the converter is determined to be non-operational if a post-catalyst temperature sensor does not indicate a sufficient temperature increase between readings before and after provision of the unburned fuel to the combustion chamber. The unburned fuel may be provided by withholding spark ignition to create a misfire in the combustion chamber or, particularly in a direct injection engine, by injecting the fuel during the exhaust stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Publication number: 20090080492
    Abstract: A misfire in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is detected by measuring a combustion chamber temperature with a temperature sensor element without using a pressure sensor having a low heat-resistive property. A temperature sensor includes an elongated probe portion extending from a housing. The housing is mounted on an engine so that the probe portion is exposed to the combustion chamber. A diaphragm is disposed on a tip of the probe portion, and a sensor element such as a thin film thermistor is mounted on the diaphragm, preferably on a rear surface of the diaphragm where the sensor element is not directly exposed to mixture gas in the combustion chamber. The sensor element may be embedded in the diaphragm. The probe portion of the temperature sensor may be integrally formed in a spark plug thereby to save a space for mounting the temperature sensor on the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisayuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7500780
    Abstract: A flexible wired circuit board for temperature measurement that can provide an accurate temperature measurement even when placed in a high-temperature atmosphere and can also be provided at a reduced cost. In the flexible wired circuit board for temperature measurement, a conductor layer formed from a metal foil, such as a stainless foil, having a proportional relation between temperature and specific electric resistance is formed on a base insulating layer. Also, a single thin sensor wiring in a sensor portion exposed from a cover insulating layer is formed into a certain pattern by folding back the sensor wiring in a continuous S-shaped form, such that adjacent parts of the wiring extending in parallel are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in a widthwise direction of the conductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Miki, Yasuhito Ohwaki
  • Patent number: 7481915
    Abstract: A system for determining a temperature of exhaust gases from an engine is provided. The system includes an exhaust gas sensor having an electric heating coil. The sensor communicates with exhaust gases from the engine. The system further includes an electrical circuit for generating a signal indicative of the resistance of the heating coil when the coil is not energized. Finally, the system includes a controller receiving the signal and calculating the temperature of the exhaust gases based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher K. Davey, David Robert Nader, Kenneth John Behr, Michael Igor Kluzner, Michael James Uhrich, Robert Joseph Jerger
  • Publication number: 20080314133
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring an exhaust gas purifying component with gas storage capability for purifying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas purifying component comprises a gas storage material which changes from a first state into a second state upon storage of the gas. A temperature change of the exhaust gas purifying component and/or of the gas storage material, substantially based on a heat tonality of the modification transition, is measured and evaluated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Clemens Brinkmeier, Christof Schoen, Guido Vent
  • Patent number: 7458718
    Abstract: A temperature sensor and method of forming the same includes a temperature sensing portion having a metal housing configured with at least one circular fin on a surface of the metal housing. A temperature sensing element is generally associated with the temperature sensing portion, wherein a potting is located within a gap formed between the temperature sensing element and the metal housing and joined with a ceramic tube for carrying a plurality of high temperature metal lead wires to and from the temperature sensing portion, thereby forming a temperature sensor utilized in an exhaust gas environment to measure temperature and improve a response time and accuracy of the temperature sensor due to an increase in surface area of the sensor tip for a given thermal mass for convection heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Guruprasad Krishnamurthy, Ramesh Anilkumar, Alfred Colin Burnett
  • Publication number: 20080253429
    Abstract: A method for detecting a fault of an oil temperature sensor of an automatic transmission by using a determining means for detecting the fault of the oil temperature sensor. The method includes any one or more of the steps of 1) determining the fault of the oil temperature sensor by comparing minimum and maximum output values of the oil temperature sensor in every driving mode, 2) determining the fault of the oil temperature sensor by detecting abnormal excessive increase and decrease of the oil temperature for a specific duration, 3) determining the fault the oil temperature sensor in the stuck state in the driving mode when transmission oil temperature increases, and 4) determining the fault of the oil temperature sensor by detecting the oil temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature based on the time when the engine is left at a stopped state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Kefico Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Sun Choi, Sung-Teag Cho, Yoon-Sang Yoon, Hyong-Kyu Kim, Jang-Sun Sim
  • Patent number: 7429128
    Abstract: A failure determination system for determining failures of temperature sensors, which is capable of easily and accurately determining failures of the sensors in actual operating temperature ranges thereof, even when the ranges are different from each other. Temperatures detected by exhaust gas temperature sensors are stored as initial temperatures when the engine has stopped. Temperatures detected by the respective sensors after stoppage of the engine are made dimensionless based on the corresponding initial temperatures to thereby calculate dimensionless values. An estimated dimensionless value of a temperature to be detected when each sensor is normal is set in advance as an estimated normal value. Failures of the sensors are determined based on results of comparisons of the dimensionless values with the estimated normal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Izumiura, Daisuke Sato, Eisaku Gosyo
  • Publication number: 20080130708
    Abstract: A temperature measuring arrangement measures the temperature of a fluid passing a component. The arrangement comprises a temperature measuring device having a substrate of low thermal capacity that has applied thereto two or more temperature recording media. The device is attached to and spaced apart from the component and is in the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Coney, Andrew J. Mullender, Hugh M.L. Watson, Christopher S. Boniface
  • Patent number: 7380983
    Abstract: In a method for checking temperature values of a temperature sensor of an internal combustion engine, a first temperature value is recorded during a first predefined time period close in time to an operating state of the starting of the internal combustion engine. With the method a check is made to determine whether a cold start of the internal combustion engine is present. An error in the first temperature value is detected if the cold start is detected and the first temperature value is greater than a temperature threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Bayerle, Wolfgang Moser, Oliver Prinz
  • Patent number: 7263434
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a component situated in an exhaust gas region of an internal combustion engine in which the low pass behavior, which is determined by the heat capacity of the component, is monitored by a valuation of a measure of a first exhaust gas temperature, which appears upstream of the component that is to be monitored, and of a second exhaust gas temperature, which is recorded by a second temperature sensor downstream from the component to be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ripper, Stefan Wickert, Torsten Handler, Dirk Samuelsen, Klaus Mueller
  • Patent number: 7193187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling electrical heating of an element to maintain a constant electrical resistance, by adjusting electrical power supplied to such element according to an adaptive feedback control algorithm, in which all the parameters are (1) arbitrarily selected; (2) pre-determined by the physical properties of the controlled element; or (3) measured in real time. Unlike the conventional proportion-integral-derivative (PID) control mechanism, the system and method of the present invention do not require re-tuning of proportionality constants when used in connection with a different controlled element or under different operating conditions, and are therefore adaptive to changes in the controlled element and the operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ing-Shin Chen, Jeffrey W. Neuner
  • Patent number: 7153023
    Abstract: A method of mounting an instrument probe using an adapter post is provided. The method includes coupling an attachment end of the adapter post to a first wall defined between a cavity and an annulus, coupling an opposite sealing end of the adapter post to a second wall defined between the annulus and the ambient area, sealing the adapter post to compensate for a relative movement between the first wall and the second wall such that the sealing is maintained, and inserting the instrument probe at least partially within the adapter post to monitor a process parameter within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Clarence Howard, Eskedar Abebe, Barton Hunter Snow
  • Patent number: 7147366
    Abstract: The rationality of a measured temperature of transmission fluid is assessed by comparing it to an engine coolant temperature. The rationality assessment is enabled when the ambient air temperature is reliably determined and deemed normal, a sufficient soak condition is confirmed, and the measured temperature, the engine temperature and the ambient air temperature are all within prescribed ranges. The rationality assessment monitors the ambient temperature relative to the initial engine temperature during the assessment period, and the assessment is disabled if the ambient air temperature deviates from the initial engine temperature by more than a calibrated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve L. Melby, Kenneth M. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7111982
    Abstract: A probe that includes both a temperature transducer and a pressure sensing port is adapted to be mounted upon and extend into the intake housing of a gas turbine engine. The probe is operative to provide air temperature and pressure data to an engine controller for the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Karl William Swonger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7104685
    Abstract: A temperature sensor (1) including a cylindrical metal tube (3) having a front end side blocked, a thermistor element (2), and a sheath member (8) connected to the thermistor element (2) and held in the inside of the metal tube (3), wherein: the metal tube (3) has a small-diameter portion (33) located on the front end side and entirely having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the sheath member (8), and a large-diameter portion (36) located on the rear end side of the small-diameter portion (33) and having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the small-diameter portion (33); and a thermistor sintered body (21) is held in the small-diameter portion (33) and cement (10) is filled in between a front end of the thermistor sintered body (21) and a front end of an inner wall of the metal tube (3) and on the front end side viewed from a rear end surface of the thermistor sintered body (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Hanzawa, Masahiko Nishi, Masaki Iwaya, Takaaki Chosokabe
  • Patent number: 7102534
    Abstract: An apparatus measures temperature of a reciprocating piston and comprises one or more thermocouples of which one end is inserted to a predetermined point of the piston and generates a potential difference according to temperature of the predetermined point. A telemetry unit is mounted on a big end of a connecting rod, computes the piston temperature on the basis of the potential difference, and wirelessly transmits the piston temperature signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyoung-Pyo Ha
  • Patent number: 7090393
    Abstract: The invention involves the use of thermal imaging equipment to take infrared images of a steam turbine during start-up. The exterior temperatures developed from the infrared images are correlated with turbine vibration data to determine which insulation temperature patterns reflect insulation poor enough to cause packing seal teeth to rub and the turbine to vibrate during operation or shut-down. From the thermal images and vibration data, control limits are developed for insulation surface temperature. Insulation is added, before the steam turbine is shut down, in accordance with the obtained data and control limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Forrest Loy, Daniel Gerard Menzel
  • Patent number: 7056014
    Abstract: A flexible wired circuit board for temperature measurement that can provide an accurate temperature measurement even when placed in a high-temperature atmosphere and can also be provided at a reduced cost. In the flexible wired circuit board for temperature measurement, a conductor layer formed from a metal foil, such as a stainless foil, having a proportional relation between temperature and specific electric resistance is formed on a base insulating layer. Also, a single thin sensor wiring in a sensor portion exposed from a cover insulating layer is formed into a certain pattern by folding back the sensor wiring in a continuous S-shaped form, such that adjacent parts of the wiring extending in parallel are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in a widthwise direction of the conductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Miki, Yasuhito Ohwaki
  • Patent number: 7036982
    Abstract: The invention provides a control strategy and a control system to control a gas sensor to a target operating temperature. It relies upon both feedback and model-based feedforward control systems to achieve and then maintain the sensor at the target operating temperature. The mechanization includes a gas sensor with a heating element in a feedstream. The control strategy employs a control system for the heating element that is based upon the target operating temperature, the temperature of the heating element, and an effect of the feedstream and mounting structure on the temperature of the sensor. The control strategy enables the control system to optimize the heating of a sensor during warm-up and steady state operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Craig Smith, Wayne Richard Moore, Matthew G. Foster
  • Patent number: 6997607
    Abstract: A cylindrical metal tube (3) accommodating therein a thermistor device (2), the electric characteristics of which change with temperature, is pushed into, or clamped and fixed to, a sheath portion (42) positioned on a flange (4) to the rear of a projection portion (41) of the flange (4), and is laser welded in a circumferential direction. A weld portion (L1) formed to bridge the metal tube (3) and the sheath portion (42) of the flange (4) firmly fixes the metal tube (3) to the flange (4). In the temperature sensor (1) having this construction, the weld portion (L1) between the metal tube (3) and the flange (4) is not exposed to a high temperature environment. Therefore, oxidation hardly occurs at the weld portion and reliability of air tightness to an exhaust gas can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Iwaya, Masahiko Nishi, Takaaki Chosokabe, Masaru Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 6988047
    Abstract: A method for determining the instantaneous temperature of a medium, the medium surrounding an element able to be electrically heated at least intermittently to a constant, known temperature. It is provided for the instantaneous temperature of the medium to be determined from a heating power supplied to the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Schatz